HONOLULU (AP) — More than a thousand Hawaii National Guard soldiers returning from the Middle East have been honored.

During the ceremony Sunday at Stan Sheriff Center each soldier received an encased American Flag, a commemorative coin, a certificate of appreciation and a special lapel.The troops completed 2,500 missions and drove more than two million miles in some of the world’s most dangerous roads.They completed training in record time and deployed a month early. They were responsible for the security and administration of several military posts and transferred enough gas to fill 70,000 cars and enough food for a million people.